Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T17:54:53.408Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Maybe we can find Some Common Ground: Indigenous Perspectives, a Music Teacher’s Story

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon*
Affiliation:
Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
Get access

Abstract

This paper examines the idea of embedding Indigenous perspectives drawing upon a metaphor for designing an environment that nurtures Indigenous cultural identity and relationships. This paper constitutes a teacher’s personal story of emerging understandings of Indigenous Standpoint Theory and pedagogy, which began with embedding Indigenous perspectives within a tertiary music and sound curriculum. These understandings were developed into “rules of thumb” that have had transferable implications for research that examines community music-making projects in urban Indigenous and cross-cultural communities. These ideas are explored through case studies that examine them in context. Furthermore, the idea of embedding Indigenous perspectives in my own value systems is explored and a growing awareness of the embodied understanding that stems from an open, continuous and critical discourse with Indigenous people. This reveals a relationship of belonging and welcoming interfaced with obligation and a growing knowledge of people, community and country and its effect on my “white understanding” of relationships. This proposal stems from several successful projects where participants have experienced both nurturing of Indigenous knowledge and a productive tension. This does not advocate an argument for positive discrimination but rather seeks to build the idea that interfaces which simultaneously develop embodied understanding alongside Indigenous pride can lead to compelling and unique learning experiences for students, teachers and communities.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 36 , Issue S1: (Re)Contesting Indigenous Knowledges & Indigenous Studies , 2007 , pp. 59 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Annois, J. (2006). Pottery expo. Retrieved 3 June, 2007, from http://www.potteryexpo.com/Warrandyte/warrandyte.htm.Google Scholar
Attwood, B. (1996). In the age of Mabo. St Leonard’s, NSW: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Australian Plants Society Yarra Yarra Group (2007). Plant information. Retrieved 3 June, 2007, from http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sgapvic/ YarraYarra.htm.Google Scholar
Baker, F. (2004). Results from the questionnaire and school data for the Band Thing Project. Unpublished report, School of Music, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland.Google Scholar
British Broadcasting Corporation (2007). Hip Hop Down Under: Indigenous Intrudaz. Retrieved 3 June, 2007, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/lxtra/tx/documentaries/hip_hop_down_under.shtml.Google Scholar
Chalmers, G. (2005, July). Tigershark Dreaming. Lecture presented in the Music and Spirituality Series, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland.Google Scholar
Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (2000). Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed.). London: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Dillon, S., & Chapman, J. (2005). “Without a song you are nothing”: Songwriter’s perspectives on indigenising tertiary music and sound curriculum. In Shehan Campbell, P. Drummond, J. Dunbar-Hall, P. Howard, K. Schippers, H., & Wiggins, T. (Eds.), Cultural diversity in music education: Directions and challenges for the 21st century (pp. 189–198). Brisbane, QLD: Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre with Australian Academic Press.Google Scholar
Jorgensen, D.L. (1989). Participant observation: A methodology for human studies (2nd ed., Vol. 15). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic enquiry. Beverley Hills, CA: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Mackinlay, E. (2004, July). Without a song you are nothing. Lecture presented in the Music and Spirituality Series, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland.Google Scholar
Mackinlay, E. (2005). Moving and dancing towards decolonisation in education: An example from an Indigenous Australian performance classroom. Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 34, 113–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nakata, M. (2002, August). Indigenous knowledge and the cultural interface: Underlying issues at the intersection of knowledge and information systems. Paper presented at the 68th International Federation of Library Association Council and General Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.Google Scholar
Ngarritjan-Kessaris, T., & Malin, M.(2001, July). Confronting the deceptions of racism: Whiteness, social change and teacher education. Paper presented at The Eighth International Literacy and Education Research: Network Conference on Learning, Dimotiko Skolio of Spetses, Spetses, Greece.Google Scholar
Pratt, G. (1990). Aural awareness: Principles and practice. London: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Rose, D.B. (1996). Nourishing terrains: Australian Aboriginal views of landscape and wilderness. Canberra, ACT: Australian Heritage Commission.Google Scholar
Spirovski, D. (2005). Stories of transformation through meaningful music making. QueenslandJournal of Music Education, 7 (1), 68–93.Google Scholar
Stake, R. (1975). Evaluating the arts in education: A responsive approach. Columbus, OH: Merrill.Google Scholar
Stake, R., Bresler, L., & Mabry, L. (1991). Custom and cherishing: The arts in elementary schools. Urbana–Champaign, IL: National Arts Education Research Center University of Illinois.Google Scholar
Strauss, A.L. (1990). Qualitative analysis for social scientists. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Swanwick, K. (1994). Musical knowledge: Intuition, analysis and music education. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Velia, R. (2000). Musical environments: A manual for listening, improvising and composing. Sydney, NSW: Currency Press.Google Scholar
Yin, R. (1981). The case study as a serious research strategy. Knowledge: Creations, Diffusions and Utiliizations, 3, 97–114.Google Scholar